Deputy O'Dowd, who is one of 15 politicians from the Oireachtas and the Seanad taking part in RTE's Operation Transformation, has shed an incredible 24 and a half pounds since the programme started five weeks ago.

He and his fellow TDs and senators took part in a rickshaw race against fellow Operation Transformation Group The Taxi Drivers.

'It's going great, I'm really enjoying it,' said Deputy O'Dowd.

'It's all in your mind and your attitude so once I'd decided I was going to go for it that was it. I've cut out all the biscuits and bread and the booze.'